Discharge chute



Noir. 22, 1932. J. 'roRoK ET AL DI SCHARGE CHUTE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1932 @MTM/wu@ JW y u M 8 WITNESSES:

Nov.l 22,- 1932. J. ToRoK 'r Al.- 1,388,513

DISCHARGE cHuTE n Filed Feb. 9, 1932 's sheets-sheet 3 JNVENToRs: Y`

`Patented Nov. 22, 1932 .TULIUs 'monox AND EDWIN DISCHARGE 'enum Application led February 9, 1932. Serial No. 591,800.

Our invention relates to discharge chutes and more particularly to coal chutes, the in- 'vention belng especially directed to means for controlling from a remote station the 5 direction and rate of discharge of the material passing through the chute.

The object o the invention, generally speaking, is to provide at 4the discharge end of a coal chute or the like devices for handily controlling the passage of the material, as to the rate of its flow and direction of its discharge, so arrangedand correlated as to reduce breakage of t e material to a minimum. Other more specific objects and advantages characterizing our invention will become more fully apparent from' the description hereinafter of one embodiment or example of the practice thereof, the description having reference to the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Fig. I represents a side elevation of the discharge end of a coal chute embodying our invention. H j

Fig. II represents an end'elevation of the same.

Fig. III represents a plan view of the same.

Fig. IV represents an enlarged detailed view, partly 1n cross section, showing the worm drive for the gate at the discharge end of the chute. y

Fig. V represents diagrammatically the electrical circuits leading to the motor which actuates the bottom ate. n

1n the drawings# ere is illustrated only a portion of the discharge end of a coal chute, and it may be assumed, for example, that the tube section designated at 1 comprises the end lsection of a common type of-telescoping chute supported for swinging movement at 43 a loading or unloading from a remote point.

Y ple of our invention, the tube section 1 isy of rectangular cross section lthroughout the major portion'of` its length with the corners cut 45 out near the lower end as shown at 2.- At its extreme lower end the tube 1 has fitted .thereona rotatable bucket or elbow extensign 3. The bucket 3 is rotated about the tube 1 by means of a large ring gear 4 which meshes 5 with a pinion 5V ona driving tor rings.

station and controlled In the present exam-l shaft 6. The

driving bracket 9. also attached The'tube section 1 and the the opening 11,

LEE 'nnaesrnnssaa or rinnovo,` rENNsYLvaNLA bevel gearsS by a motor The motor 9 is mounted on a bracket 10,

to the tube 1. f

bucket 3 which its axisdei'lne a passage termi.-

in a laterally directed dlscharge openfrom which the coal passes from the desired direction. Adjacent to the bucket 3, `which in the present instance is of square cross-section, is

provided with a curved deflector For opening plate 12. and closing the opening 11, a

gate 13 is pivotally mounted on the bucket-3.. lAn additional motor'l is shown for effecting revolution of the gate close the discharge opening amount, and

tity or rate of charged.

13 to open and 11 the desired thereby to regulate the quan- In order to furnish current for the 4motor 15 which actuates the gate 13, we preferably provide collector rin the ring gear tion to the tubesection s 16 in association with rushes 17 in fixed rela- 4, and

1.. The collector rings 16. are mounted on the ring gear 4 by means of supp jacent to the tion 1 is cut a at 2 to afford brush holder orts 18 of insulating material.

Adcollector rings 16, the tube secway at the corners as indicated flow of the coal to be disshaft (iis in turn supported with a I I 7 attached to thevtube section 1 and is driven through ample clearance for the collec-v p The brushesvl'? are mounted on studsg19 which are in turn secured to block supports 20 of insulating material bolted to the tube section 1. Directly above the brushes 17 removable covers 21- are provided which render convenient access to the brushes for pur oses of adiustment or replacement.l A cy indrical guard 22, com-v pletel' housing the collector rings 16 and extending downward to cover the ring gear 4,

is also preferably provide The gate 13 is shown withside members 23 4 sub st anti ally in the form; of a quadrant of a circle to which a curved bottom plate 24 is riveted. One relatively sho side member 23 is' fitted with a rt fulcrum gate pin ,25 which is fastened to a bracket 26vsecured to the correspondng side is bifurcated of the bucket 3. The bracket 26 to accommodate the`side member 23 of the ate 13. The other side member.

vplate 33 upon which the motor I15 is supported and outwardl projecting arms 34 which aord bearings or the-worm shaft 35. Between the arms 34 of the bracket 31 a Worm 36 is mounted on the lworm lshaft 35. The worm 36 meshes with the worm gear 29 and drives the same to revolve the gate 13 about its fulcrum pins 25 and 27. A cover plate 37 lu s 41 are welded or otherwise encloses the worm 36. v

As shown in Fig. IV, the worm shaft 35 is connected to the shaft 73 of the motor 15 by means of a coupling 74. The coupling 74 is splined to the motor shaft 73 by a ke 75. At its upper end the worm shaft 35 is uted "as shown at 76 to engage corresponding notches-in the coupling 74, and there is thus effected a positive connection between the motor 15 and the worm 36. The coupling 74 serves not only to permit the removal of the worm shaft 36 without removal of the motor 15, but it also relieves lateral and differential motions between the motor shaft 73 and the worm shaft 35. Between the arms 34 of the bracket-31 and worm 36 ball bearings 77 are inserted to take the thrust of the worm.

Between the motor 15 and the worm 36, a magnetic brake `38 is mounted upon the bracket 31. The .brake 38 includes brake shoes -39 which are pressed by means of sprin s 40 against the motor shaft 73. It may be assumed that the brake 38v is of a well-known commercial type including electromagnetic vmeans for withdrawingl the brake 'shoes 39 from the motor shaft 73, against the pressure of the spring 40, when the circuit to the brake is energized.

- Upon the ends of the gate 13, projecting attached. e lugs 4l are adapted to lengage limit bumpers 42 which are secured at opposite' sides of the bucket, and which include plunge ers 43, carrying rollers A44, urged toward the gate lugs 41 by springs 45 within the cylinders 46. As thel gate 13 moves to fully closedposition, as indicated by thedot-'anddashlines of Fig. I, one lug 41 strikes the roller 44 of the bumper 42 shown at the lefthand of the ligure, and the force of the impact is absorbed by the spring 45. When the spring 45 is compressed 'to a predetermined point, the motor 15 is overloaded, and, by means of electrical devices hereinafter described, the circuit of the motor 15 is automatically opened, causing the motor to stop.

Likewise asthe gate 13 moves to full open position, the other lug 41 strikes the umper 42shown at the right-hand of Fig. I, and

causes the motor 15 to become overloaded and to be stopped automatically. In the normal operation of the coal chute, however, the operator reverses or stops the motor 15 before the gate 13 rea hes either vlimit of its travel, and the limit umpers 42 servemerely as safety devices. y I t An examplef of an electrical circuit whlch may be employed in connection with the motor 15 is showndiagrammatically in Fig. IV. 4 In this example, the motor 15 is represented as a three phase induction motor with s conductors 47a, 475 and 47 c leading thereto -through the collector rings 16, brushes 17,

and a junction box 48. In circuit with the main conductors 47a, 475, 47e, there-is shown a line starter S, and a thermal relay T. Push buttons 49, 50 and 51 are shown mounted on a control panel P, and they control respectively the stopping, forward movement and reverse movement of the, motor'15. The magnetic -brake previously described is represented diagrammatically at 38. Contacts 52a, 525 and 520 of the line starter S are operative in the control of forward move rment of the motor 15, whereas contacts 53a,

535 and 530 are operative inv the reverse movement of the motor.

The operation of the electrical'apparatus is as follows: When theforward push button 50, which is normally out of contact, and which is closed against the pressure of a spring, is actuated, a circuit is closed causing current to pass frommain line conductor LZ through coil 54, conductor 55, the contact at push button 50, conductor 56, including con# tact 57 of the thermal relay T to L3, thus energizing coil v54, and causing the contacts 52a, 525 and'520 of the line starter S to close. With the forward contacts 52a, 525, 520 of the line starter S closed, current passes from main line conductorLl, through c'ontact 52a, coil 58 of the thermal relay T to conductor 47a, and thence through collector ring 16 and conductor 72a to the motor 15. Current also passes from main line conductor L2. through Contact 525, and conductor 47,5, conductor 725 to the motor 15. Current also .parses from main line conductor L3 throu h contact 520, coil 59 of the thermal relay conductor 47 0, c o'ndncto'r 720, and thence to the motor 15.

When the reverse push button 51, which is normally out of contact, and which is closed changed.

' 70, the hooked duotor L2, through conductor 60,contact. 53?),

conductor 65, conductor 475., conductor 72b and thence to the' motor 15.l Current also passesfrom main line conductor L3' through conductor 66, contact 530, conductor 67, to coil 58 of thermal relay T and thence through, conductor 47a and conductor 72a tothe motor 15. Accordingly, with the reverse button 5l actuated, the phases of themotor 15 are reversed and its direction -of rotation is To stop the motor, the stop push button 49, which is normally closed isopened. 'This causes bothcoil 54 and coil 61 to lbe deenergized, so that all the contacts of the line, starter are opened.

With the lmotor lgoin-g in either direction,k in case the' gate 13 should strike the limit bumper 42 on the bucket 3, the resistance` offered to further movement of thegate causes thel motor `15 to become overloaded, which in turn causes the-coils 58 and 59 of the thermal relay T to'become excessively heated, whereupon the temperature responsive elements 67 are caused to flex with resulting movement of the cross arm 68 and contact 69. This opens. the contact at 57, and causes the motor to stop automatically.v The movement ofthe cross arm 68 is followed by`dropping by gravity of the latch end of which catches upon the cross arm 68 and maintains the open' circuit until the bell cord 71 is actuated, releasing the cross arm 68.

Whenever the motor 15 is stopped by reason Vofthe opening of the circuit thereof, current to the magnetic brake 38 is shut off. Its electromagnetic coil is therefore deenergized and ythe springs 40 cause the brake shoes 39 to press against the motor shaft 35, rapidly retarding further movement of the gate 13. r

The control panel P is located at the re-V mote station from which the various movementsv of the coal chute are controlled, including the operation of the motor 9, which effects rotation of the bucket 3 about the axis of the tube 1. f.The conductors 47 a, 47?), 47e, y which lead tothe brushes 17, are attached to the tube 1, whereas the other set of conductors 72a, 72b, 720 which lead from the colv lector-rings 16 to the motor 15, are attached tothe rotary bucket 3.

In operating the coal chute of this invention, the discharge ,tube 1 is first positioned by 'mechanical apparatus, lwhich forms `no part of 'thisinventiom at a point above the v i sitemwhere coal'pis to be dumped. Subsequently, by means of the motor ,9, the bucket' 'i 3 is rotated about the tube 1, `so that its discharge opening 1l is directed laterally of the tube 1 toward the dumping site. Thereupon by manipulation of the push buttons 49, and 51 of the control panel P, the gate 13 is moved back and forth to regulate the flow of-coal from the bucket in such manner as to minimize breakage.

.It will be particularly. noted that the gate 13 in its fully ope-n position is disposed behind the curved deflector plate 12, and that when itis desired to retard the rate of dis-` charge of material, the gateis swung upward towards a position directly in advance of the deflector plate 12. Accordingly,when the discharge chute is operated, 'and espey cially when it is desiredto reduce breakage to a minimum, the gate is first closed, and

when the chute has become filled Jwith material,-it is opened gradually, permitting the material to' spill out at the side while beingl retarded inits How by the deflect-or plate 12 and a Iportion of theinner surface of the gate. Thus a sheer drop of the material and the breakage resulting therefrom is avo'ided. Furthermore, the manner yin whichthefgate is operated greatly facilitates the trimming of the bunker or other receptacle into which theJ material is discharged. lBy v revolvin' the bucket with the Vgate partially opene the material-,instead of pyramiding itself in lthe bunker lin the manner customary with discharge chutes now 1n common use, 'is

caused to be spread evenly in layers. It willV also -be observed that when the lower endof the chute is buried in the pile of'discharged material, the flow .will not be interrupted so long as the opening is not wholly-obstructed,

yand that closure of the gate can be readily effected while the end of the` chute is still buried in the pile.

Vh-ile we have described one form which our invention may take, it will be apparent that various changes may be made Iin the particular apparatus herein illustrated and s described without departing from the spirit of our invention. For example, it is contemplated that the particular form or shape of the tube, bucket and gate of our invention maybe varied considera ly withoutaffecting their mode of operation.

Having thus described our inventiom'we claim: l

1. In `a dischargev chute, a tube, a bucket rotatable'yabout the axis of the tube at vthe end thereof and terminating in-a'laterally directed discharge opening, a gate pivotedl on f, i

said bucket and movable upward tol retard` the 4rate of iw of material through said discharge opening, a driving unit mountedon said tube for effecting rotation of the bucket vabout said tube, and an additional'drivingxunit mounted on said elbow extension for opening and closing said gate;4

2. In a-discharge'chute, a tube, a bucketv rotatable aboutJ the axis of the ttbe at the end thereof and terminating in a laterally di rected discharge opening, a curved delector plate at said opening, a gate pivoted centrally of said bucket and adapted t be revolved upward from a position behind .said deiector plate to a position in advance thereof to closel said opening, means mounted on said tube for effecting rotation of said bucket, iand means mounted on saidbucket for revolving said gate. g i 3; In a discharge chute, a tube, a bucket` rotatable about the axis of the tube at the end thereof; a curved defiector plate .tangential tothe Wall of said bucket forming a latthereof to close said'opening', means mounted Y orally directed discharge opening, otcdv centrally of said bucket and adapted to be revolved upwardv from a position behind saiddeiiector plate to a position in advance on said tube for effecting rotation of said bucket, and means for revolving said gate.

4.` In a discharge chute, a bucket forming i the terminus of a discharge passage, a gate pivoted on 'said bucket and adaptedto be revolved from one position to another tov -open and close said discharge passage, a mof tor for actuating said gate, means adapted to be engaged by said gate asthe gatey approaches its limits of movement for'i'ncreasing the load on said motor, and means for opening the circuit to said motor when the -load'reaches la predetermined point.

5. In a discharge chute, a bucket'forming the terminus of'a discharge passage, la gate on said bucket adapted tobe moved from one a gate pivcircuit to said motor when its load reaches a predetermined point, means coactmg with said gate for increasing the load on said motor as the gate approaches its limits of movement, and a brake for retarding movement of the applied when the circuit to saidl vmotor is opened? 4 8. In a discharge chute, a bucket forming' the terminus of a discharge passage, a. gate pivoed on said bucket and adapted to be revolved from'one position towanother to open and close-said discharge passage, a motor for actuatingsaid gate,- bumpers coacting lwith said gate for increasing'the load on said motor as the gate approaches its limits-0f movement, and a relay for opening the cir`l reaches a cuit to said motor when its load predetermined point.,

position to another to open and g' close said discharge assal e a motor mounted on sa1d h 5 bucket for actuating sai-d gate, means for con.-

l, trolling vthe direction of said motor, and a magnetic br-akefor 'retarding movement of said gate, said brake being automatically ap g plied when said motor isA stopped.

` pivoted on said bucket and `adaptedto be 6. In a discharge chute, a tube, a bucket rotatable about the axis of. the tube at the end thereof, a gate pivoted on said bucket ,l

and adaptedto be revolved from one position to another to open and close said dischargepassageI na motor mounted on said, bucket'for actuating said gate, a circuit. to said motor including means for controlling its direction, startingand stopping, .and-a magnetic brake f'or'retarding movement ofsaid gate, said brake being automaticallyhap'l plied when the circuit to said motor is opened. y A

7. `In a discharge chute, a bucket kfprn'ing the terminus of Va discharge passage, a gate revolved from one position to another to open and close said discharge passage, a motor for actuating said gate, a relay for opening the In testimony whereof, we have hereunto S5 signed our names at Renovo, Pennsylvania, this 30th day of January, 1932. f

JULIUS TOROK.

EDWIN BERGSTRESSER.

' y so iev gate, said-brake being automatically'y 

